The proposed route for the newly announced PennEast natural gas pipeline is highlighted in green on this map.

(Courtesy of PennEast Pipeline)

TRENTON — The Mercer County freeholders could join the growing group of officials opposing the proposed PennEast natural gas pipeline.

The board Monday night discussed passing a resolution against the project after Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes requested the board join in in his opposition, which was announced last month, because of concerns that the pipeline, as proposed, would cut through county park facilities including Mercer Meadows and the Equestrian Center.

Freeholders could pass the resolution at their formal meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Princeton Municipal Complex on Witherspoon Street.

Freeholder Andrew Koontz said the resolution was crafted to encourage PennEast to co-locate the project with existing the pipelines, maintain transparency with the public and embrace a route that would avoid impacting county parks as well as local farmland, open space and wetlands.

The pipeline is proposed to run about 100 miles from northeastern Pennsylvania to Hopewell Valley.

Freeholder Lucylle R.S. Walter agreed that the resolution should focus on the route, emphasizing that the freeholders aren't opposed to pipelines in general.

"It makes clear that we're not opposed to any pipeline anywhere at anytime," Walter said.